Is the $30 wine actually “good”?

I’m wine newbie who only tried Barefoot and Carlo Rossi. However this friend swears that a $30 bottle of wine is better than some $10 bottle. I don’t understand - wouldn’t you just buy wine that “tastes” the same but is cheaper? How do I tell if a wine bottle is “good” if I don’t have any experience drinking it? My friend went on a wine tour and wine tasting and from what I could tell, everyone there was a rich middle aged couple. <br><br>What’s the point of even going on a wine tour?